Which sentence correctly uses a semicolon to join two related independent clauses?

• A. She finished the assignment; she turned it in.
• B. She finished the assignment, she turned it in.
• C. She finished the assignment. She turned it in.
• D. She finished the assignment; and she turned it in.

Answer: (A)

Using a semicolon to join two related independent clauses means you connect two statements that could stand alone as sentences but are closely related in meaning. The semicolon signals that the second clause follows logically from the first, creating a single, smoother thought.

In this example, the sentence “She finished the assignment; she turned it in” uses a semicolon correctly. Each part could be a complete sentence on its own, and the semicolon shows the close connection between finishing the assignment and turning it in, as steps in the same action.

The other versions fail for this use. A comma between two independent clauses creates a comma splice, because a simple comma isn't enough to link two complete thoughts. A period creates two separate sentences, which ends the connection between the ideas rather than linking them with a semicolon. And a semicolon followed by “and” isn't standard punctuation; after a semicolon you don't use a coordinating conjunction. You would either use a semicolon with a transition word instead of “and” (like “however”) or simply use a comma with the coordinating conjunction: “She finished the assignment, and she turned it in,” or “She finished the assignment; then she turned it in.”